Its a disgrace that judges like Sotomayor can hold up justice for 6 yrs., and turn affirmative action into a circus.

What makes you think you already haven't had a dyslexic pilot? or pharmacist? Then why not a fireman? The guy passes the tests, the physical, all pre requisits,... he's in. If he was that incompetent his own men would make it known, write him up, as in accordance with thier own job responsiblities. It aint up for you or me to judge. A man proves himself in accordance with set standards and requirements ,he's proven himself. It's the american way, like being innocent before proven guilty. It's like freedom, you know that stuff we had from a long time ago before liberal idiots sold it out for empty promises from a corrupt,elite,political class. Now they try to regulate every aspect of our lives because they know better than everybody, and darn people like them too! They won!!

I never expressed a scintilla of sympathy for those who failed or scored poorly on the test. In fact, I stated explicitly that I was glad the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Ricci. So maybe you have a reading comprehension problem.

My point (which was really quite clear) was that it's not a good idea to base promotions solely on written tests, especially in life-saving professions.

Contrary to your assertion, Ricci did not overcome a learning disability. He still has dyslexia. With thorough preparation and a hired tutor, he mastered the body of knowledge covered by this one test. But the next test will cover a new body of knowledge. And if it's a real-world test,it may be under a severe time constraint. This time, Ricci gamed the system in a way he won't always be able to do. I have more confidence in the white firefighters who got the 7th and 8th highest scores than Ricci (who had the 6th). Yeah, yeah, now you're going to tell me I should be more supportive of dyslexics. Okay, but first I hope you will also put your money where you mouth is and find yourself a dyslexic pharmacist. If you can't find such a pharmacist, then perhaps a dyslexic airline pilot.

Anyone know if there's a place you can find a copy of the test?

I find it hard to imagine how "racially biased" a firefighting test could be. Of course, I also don't know how many applicants from each selected ethnic group existed--if there were only 6 black guys, 30 latin guys, and 100 white guys, maybe the fact that no blacks failed doesn't demonstrate a flaw with the test in the first place.

So imagine if the outcome of this test promoted a disproportionate number of minorities. The likes of Sotomayor and other "liberal guilt" folks would be laughing, were talking slapping your knee laughing, at any attempts of white to fight the promotion process as racial.

It's alarming that 4 other justices agreed with the circuit court's decision.

Affirmative action is racism.

The New Haven test, along with department prerequisites qualified Mr Ricci to handle that stressful situation you speak of. I certainly would trust the ability to make sound judgements more with somebody who had at least proven sound forethought in the past. Mr Ricci demonstrated this by hiring a tutor in the first place. I do not understand how you can assert that people who failed this exam may have a superior ability to examine documents and deal under pressure better than someone who passed it simply because he had to overcome a learning disability to do it.

A great quarterback has to be 1)very smart 2)physically talented and 3)a leader. A lineman can be great without being very smart or a team leader. No college football team would pick its quarterback based solely on SAT scores.

A firefighter captain or lieutenant needs to be 1)very smart 2)experienced and 3) a leader. A non-officer firefighter needs to be 1)strong and 2) courageous. Basing firefighter promotions solely on a multiple choice test is a stupid idea. I heard a nearby town used the same test but didn't base promotions on it. That town also didn't get sued. Smart town.

I'm glad the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Ricci. In fact, I wish it had been a 7-2 decision instead of a 5-4. A bigger win would have done more to quench the flames of white victimization.

If Ricci ever gets promoted to captain and has to read blueprints in a time-critical situation, the people of New Haven had better hope that tutor is on 24-hour call.

And Ricci had better hope that there's not a surge of Asian firefighter recruits in the pipeline. Because those guys really know how to study and ace tests--no tutor required.

Judge Sotomayor, as Justice Sotomayor, would have had to recuse herself in this case.

Kinda like Scalia recusing himself when ruling on his duck hunting buddy's energy task force?

You are correct. But that is not as much fun for the slavering rightists in their attempt to smear Sotomayor. It gives them something to hang their hat on besides their innate racism/sexism and seething hatred of anybody to the left of Rush Limbaugh.

as usual you feel compelled to contribute nothing more than lies and ignorance.

"The left" has no dog in this hunt. In fact, if you want to be technical, it was the right who didn't get what they wanted. Instead, you were forced to swallow a dose of judicial activism (which is really easy for rightists to do when they *like* a decision)

As for Sotomayor being overturned in the majority of her opinions, why don't come up with the numbers instead of making things up to make your point.

Otherwise, as usual, you're just a weak mind blowin' hot air

Everyone keeps calling it the Sotomayor case, but in reality isn't it a panel of three judges initially and can actually go to the entire circuit if necessary? But doesn't that make it the circuits case and not an individual judges case.